10 Easy Ways To Improve Your Gas Mileage

Ask anyone what they remember about the summer of 2008 and they’ll all say the same thing: high gas prices.

That was the summer that one gallon of gas cost almost $4.50 in some places. Diesel staggered over $5.

The positive side effect of the high price of gas is that we all became far more aware of how much we were using on a daily basis. We drove less, we walked more, and we did everything we could to get as far as we could on each drop.

Just because gas has dropped in price now doesn’t mean that we should start guzzling just as much as we did before. It’s more important than ever that we use less. After all, oil is a fossil fuel, which means there’s only a limited amount of it. Eventually, the price is going to skyrocket as the world’s supply dwindles.

So, knowing how to get the best gas mileage out of your car will not only start saving you money now, but it will help you start developing the habit of reduced consumption. And, that’s always a good thing.

10 Easy Tips To Improve Your Gas Mileage

1. Drive Sensibly- FuelEconomy.gov says that driving aggressively (accelerating quickly, rapid braking, etc.) can lower your car’s gas mileage by 33%. Although driving has turned into a full contact sport in some areas, you’re going to save a significant amount of gas if you chill out.

2. Drive Slow- Driving 60 mph is the best speed at which to get the optimum gas mileage for your car. How much can you save? Well, FuelEconomy.gov says that each 5 mph you drive over 60 is like paying an additional $0.24 per gallon. Ouch.

Slowing down will definitely save you money in the long run. And, it might even save your life.

3. Use Cruise Control- According to Edmunds.com, using the cruise control feature on your car is an easy way to improve your gas mileage. According to their tests, cruise control can help you improve your gas mileage by 14%.

4. Don’t Idle Your Car- Edmunds.com also tested this tip as well, and they were surprised at how much gas an idling car consumed. They say that avoiding excess idling can save you up to 19%. If you’re going to sit any longer than a minute, shut your car off.

5. Make Sure You’re Using the Right Oil- Road and Travel Magazine states that the difference between 5W-30 and 10W-30 really matters. Making sure you’re putting the right oil in your engine can save you 3%.

6. Clean Out Your Trunk- If your trunk or backseat is full of junk you just haven’t had time to clean out, then be aware you’re paying to haul it. FuelEconomy.gov states that removing this excess weight will save you 2% on your gas mileage.

7. Keep Those Tires Pumped- Inflating your tires to the proper pressure (which can usually be found on a sticker, inside the driver’s door) can save you 3.3% on your fuel costs.

8. Combine Your Trips- This is one of the easiest ways to get dramatically more miles out of every gallon. Combine your trips! You’ll save big just by making three stops, rather than making 3 seperate trips.

9. Don’t Warm Up Your Car- If you live in a cold Northern climate, you’ve probably gone out to warm up your car on a frigid morning. Chances are, it sat out there idling for at least 5 minutes. According to the U.S. Department of Energy (USDE), cars don’t need to idle any longer than 30 seconds on a cold morning for the engine to warm up. Anything more is just wasting gas.

10. Ditch Your Roof Rack- If you’re driving around with a roof rack for bikes, boats, or luggage, then keep in mind that this is decreasing your car’s fuel efficiency by up to 5%, according to the USDE. If you don’t use it regularly, take it off to save fuel.

Last Word…

As you can see, these tips are very easy to implement and all of them will immediately start helping your car get better gas mileage. Even the smaller tips that only save 2-3% add up when they’re coupled together!